E2M2: Ecological & Epidemiological Modeling in Madagascar
E2M2pic
January 13-20 & January 22, 2018
Centre ValBio, Ranomafana National Park & Institut Pasteur de Madagascar, Antananarivo
Along with Tanjona Ramidantsoa, I organize E2M2: Ecological and Epidemiological Modeling in Madagascar, an annual workshop for Malagasy students aimed to provide an introduction to the use of dynamical models in understanding ecological and epidemiological data. Students participate in a series of interactive lectures and computer-based tutorials and learn to fine-tune model-based research questions, develop clear model frameworks and corresponding equations, and fit models to real-world data. All students work closely with peers and instructors to develop a research plan for an ongoing or existing project integrating dynamical modeling with data collection and/or analysis in a biological system of their choosing. These research plans can then be used as a foundation for future dissertation or grant proposals.
Our 2018 clinic will take place from January 13-20, 2018 at Centre ValBio, Ranomafana National Park, Madagascar, with a mandatory closing session to follow at Institut Pasteur de Madagascar on January 22.
6:30am: Depart from Tana (Institut Pasteur) via bus, travel to Ranomafana (lunch stop Antsirabe)
6:30-7:30pm: Dinner
7:30-8:30pm: Introductions and Road Map: What are we doing here? (Cara)
Sun, Jan 14: “Thinking About Data”
6:30-8:00am: Breakfast
8:00-8:30am: Road Map and Daily Agenda (Cara)
8:30-9:30am: Lecture: Models and Data (Tanjona)
9:30-10:30am: Software installation and catch-up. Mentors + instructors make sure all students have the proper materials installed and work through 4 tutorials with them.
10:30am – 11:00am: Break
11:00am-12:00pm: 1-min student introductions and research presentations (Cara)
12:00-1:00pm: Lunch
1:00-2:00pm Lecture: Exploring & visualizing data in R (Christian + Cara)
2:00-3:00pm: Tutorial: Exploring & visualizing data in R (Christian + Cara)
3:00-3:30pm: Break
3:30pm-4:30pm: Lecture: Linear regression and simple statistics (Andres)
4:30-5:30pm: Tutorial: Basic statistical modeling in R (Andres)
5:30-6:30pm: Free time
6:30-7:30pm: Dinner
Mon, Jan 15: “Deeper Thinking About Data”
6:30-8:00am: Breakfast
8:00-8:30am: Road Map and Daily Agenda (Cara)
8:30am-9:30am: Lecture: Introduction to mixed modeling (Andres)
9:30am-10:00am: Break
10:00am-11:00am: Tutorial: Mixed modeling in R (Andres)
11:00am-12:00pm: Writing Exercise: Formulating research questions (HW)(Cara)
12:00pm-1:00pm: Lunch
1:00-2:30pm: Lecture w/Tutorial: Introduction to occupancy modeling (Fidy)
2:30-3:00pm: Prep for hike
3:00-6:30pm: Afternoon hike in Ranomafana National Park
6:30-7:30pm: Dinner
Tues, Jan 16: “Thinking About Mechanism”
6:30-8:00am: Breakfast
8:00-8:30am: Road Map and Daily Agenda (Cara)
8:30-10:00am: Lecture: Introduction to Compartmental Models and Differential Equations (Jess)
10:00-10:30am: Break
10:30am-12:00pm: Tutorial: Building Mechanistic Models in R (Jess)
12:00-1:00pm: Lunch
1:00-3:00pm: Small group session: Refining research questions for modeling (Cara introduces + all instructors lead small groups)
3:00-3:30pm: Writing Exercise: Creating a model world to address a research question (HW)(Cara)